Malaysia will surpass '98 target

12/09/2002

SPORTS Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein is optimistic that Malaysia
will surpass the five gold medal haul achieved at the 1998 Bangkok Asian
Games in this year's edition in Busan.
In fact, he personally feels that the Malaysian contingent have capable
athletes to even surpass their best achievement in 1966.
"I have briefed the Cabinet on the progress of the Asian Games athletes
and the target set for the Malaysian contingent is to try and better the
Bangkok 1998 Asian Games haul of five gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze
medals.
"But, personally, I feel that the athletes should strive to better the
1966 Bangkok Asian Games record of seven gold, five silver and six bronze
haul," said Hishammuddin at his office yesterday.
The Busan Asian Games at the end of the month, will see 43 countries
competing and the number of athletes vying for honours is 15,000.
"Malaysia will be parading a 300-strong contingent and the breakdown is
209 athletes, 77 managers and coaches and 14 support staff. We will be
competing in 25 sports in Busan."
When asked why Malaysia was setting such a conservative target after
preparing for four years and spending millions on athletes, Hishammuddin
said: "We are just being realistic because, unlike the Commonwealth Games,
China and hosts Korea will be at the Asian Games to claim the bulk of the
medals.
"Sports like badminton will receive stiff challenges from China and
Korea, and the same applies to weightlifting. That is why we cannot hope
for too much in Busan," said Hishammuddin.
Hishammuddin has the individual breakdown from where the medals are
expected to come from, but will only reveal it nearer to the Games.
"I have the breakdown from where the medals are expected to come from
but I prefer to make a statement nearer to the Asian Games as some of the
athletes are still undergoing training and we do not want to disrupt their
preparations by making an announcement now," said Hishammuddin.
On the millions spent on the Asian Games athletes, he said: "The money
is actually left over from the Jaya `98 and KL 2001 Sea Games budget. We
have managed to spread it thinly, and stretch it right up till the Busan
Asian Games."
And after Busan, the Sports Ministry will draw up plans right till 2010.
"We will get a fresh allocation after Busan and the target is to prepare
athletes for the 2006 and the 2010 Asian Games."
On the athletes themselves, Hishammuddin is confident they will perform
to expectations.
"And that is all I ask of them, give their best on competition days and
who knows, maybe we can even erase the 1966 achievement in Busan."
On another note, Hishammuddin said that he has briefed the Cabinet on
the World's Strongest Man/Woman event which will be held for the first
time in Asia.
"The event will be held on Sept 14-24 at various venues in Kuala Lumpur.
I am proud to announce that Malaysia will be the first country in Asia to
organise the event," said Hishammuddin.
Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Dataran Merdeka, Putrajaya and Bintang Walk
(Bukit Bintang) are the venues for the event which has attracted 25
television stations worldwide - among them the British Broadcasting
Corporation and ESPN.
The minister said 240 million viewers worldwide are expected to watch
the event on television, making it a big success in sports tourism.
(END)